Singular Janet Reno Standing Her Ground

CAPITAL WATCH - William E. Gibson

December 1, 1996|WILLIAM E. GIBSON

WASHINGTON - — Amid the post-election power struggles, Janet Reno remains standing, a Washington outsider who refuses to quit and go home. Her political obituary after the election, so casually spelled out with a shrug and a smile by those in the know, now seems absurdly premature.

Her jaw firmly set, her tall figure unbowed, her left hand trembling slightly from the effects of Parkinson's disease, the attorney general stays at her post, rising above maneuverings at the White House.

Over the past four years, Reno has withstood far worse than the anonymous sniping from White House aides who are hoping she will just fade away. These operatives have never embraced Reno, faulting her for not being enough of a team player.

Reno, a former Dade County prosecutor, has kept a measure of independence as attorney general. But for the most part, she has supported President Clinton and his policies, and she has rescued his presidency at least twice.

The first rescue came with her nomination and easy confirmation several weeks into Clinton's first year in office.

His first two selections, Zoe Baird and Kimba Wood, had been forced to withdraw, bringing further embarrassment to a White House reeling from nomination misfires. Clinton then turned to Reno, saying it took him three tries to finally get it right.

The second rescue came four weeks after Reno was sworn in. Clinton had fled the spotlight the day federal agents stormed the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, resulting in a fiery confrontation that killed 91 people, including 25 children.

While Clinton ducked, Reno stood rigid and frowning in front of TV cameras. "I made the decision," she said. "I'm accountable. The buck stops with me."

Some thought Reno would trudge home in disgrace, a political scapegoat. But the opposite happened. She became known as the public official who didn't waver, who made tough decisions and stood behind them, who told the truth. Bags of "Dear Janet" letters arrived at the Justice Department. "Reno-mania" was born.

"I know you are a person who cannot be pushed around," a New Jersey man wrote. "Good for you."

Since then, Reno-mania has faded a bit, though the attorney general still draws cheering crowds.

Some departing Justice Department lawyers question her ability to manage the vast department. Conservatives say she spends too much time talking about social conditions that lead to crime rather than cracking down on it. But most judicial observers credit Reno for restoring a sense of integrity and independence at the Justice Department, qualities that had eroded under cronies of previous presidents.

At the start of his second term, Clinton once again appears to be wavering on his Cabinet choices. Reno's rescue missions are forgotten. White House aides seem fixated on sheltering Clinton and the Democratic Party from investigations into improper campaign contributions.

The president has been silent on whether he will keep Reno on the job, leading to speculation that he has reverted to the waffling that marked his first two years in office. This dithering quality exasperates both friends and adversaries of Clinton.

Reno's reaction? She remains one of his staunchest defenders, even on the question of her own job status. Just give him time, she says, and the president will make the right choice.